Riding his palomino horse, Bryce Cronin lands a perfect lasso on a calf's neck during breakaway roping event at Whidbey Island Fair's rodeo July 26
It’s a week later, and after seeing David Welton’s photos from the rodeo, held for the first time in a long while at the Whidbey Island Fair, I felt like I was back in the stands cheering the performers human and animal. Bravo! Thank you, Anne Madsen, for putting this event together for the fair and generating an interest in roping and riding.
Opening ceremonies honoring the rodeo’s sponsors: A&J Western Riding, Madsen Enterprises, Whidbey Coffee, Eagle Builders, Sebo’s Do-it Center, Frontier Paint, and Hanson’s Building Supply.
Riders open the rodeo riding around the arena with sponsors’ flags. Codie Nysether, left, holds A&J Western Riding flag, and Rhylee Pierce holds Whidbey Coffee bannerAnne Madsen, who organized this year’s rodeo at the Whidbey Island Fair, carries the American flag, while riding Reggie, a 15-year-old quarter horse bay roan
Pull the ribbon from the goat’s tail
Pulling ribbon from goat’s tail, Jessie, young cowgirl, is triumphantA quick halt and exit from Feisty the paint horse for goat’s tail ribbon pull. With Jocelyn Nichols as the rodeo rider.Dismounting from her horse, Jocelyn Nichols runs to pull a ribbon from a goat’s tail in a timed race
Barrel racing
Racing round the barrels on foot in stick horse race is Rhylee PierceA young rodeo cowgirl gallops in her socks during stick horse barrel racePalomino barrel racing with Bryce Cronin at Whidbey Island Fair rodeoMajor the horse corners a barrel during a speed race with her rider Jocelyn Nichols at the Whidbey Island Fair rodeo.
Breakaway roping–a popular rodeo sport in which the rope breaks away when the calf is roped:
Personally, I love dairy cows and I simply could not fail to include all the photos David sent me:
Roping calves from Whidbey Farm and Market in Oak HarborRodeo calves in holding penHerd of dairy calves from Whidbey Farm and Market in Oak Harbor. The calves are trained to work with rodeo horsesThe calf is roped along neck and leg in this breakaway roping race by roper Brian WestA young participant successfully ropes a dummy calfRoping a dairy calf during the breakaway roping event at Whidbey Island Fair’s rodeo July 25 is Jocelyn Nichols
Rodeo Action
Rodeo rider Jocelyn Nichols and Major the horse in action running home in the barrels race.
